The first on field workout for pitchers and catchers is Monday … position players report on Friday with the first full squad workout on February 19. Here are the updates from Mesa on the eve of the start of Camp ‘Q’ …

Bruce Miles on Chicago’s Game Day
The Cubs beat writer for the Daily Herald joined Fred Huebner and Jonathan Hood during Chicago’s Game Day (ESPN 1000) on Sunday morning. Bruce Miles is in Mesa and talked Cubs on the morning pitchers and catchers reported to Fitch Park …

Miles thinks Mike Quade will be more hands-on than Lou Piniella. Piniella was big at delegating responsibility to his coaches. While Quade will delegate, Miles expects the new Cubs’ skipper to be more involved than Piniella was over the last four camps.

Quade showed at the end of last year he was not afraid to get in the face of rookies and veteran players. Quade made sure everyone knew who was in charge. Miles liked what he saw from Quade and is expecting more of the same.

As for Aramis Ramirez, Miles is expecting a big year from him … if he’s healthy. Ramirez is in a contract year and the Cubs own a $16 million option on Aramis for the 2012 season that includes a $2 million buyout.

Miles was asked which two pitchers he thinks begin the season as the fourth and fifth starters in the rotation. Miles feels Randy Wells and Carlos Silva will round out Q’s rotation. Miles really liked what he saw from Casey Coleman at the end of last season but often times it is better to defer to veterans because of their experience.

Miles is expecting Tyler Colvin to see time in right and left field this season.

Blake DeWittreported Sunday as well. DeWitt is in the mix to hit at the top of Q’s lineup … but admitted he hasn’t thought about hitting leadoff for the Cubs this season. DeWitt told Bruce Miles that he thinks working with Rudy Jaramillo really helped. He feels the strides he made in the off-season will help throughout the year.

Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano or Matt Garza will take the hill on Opening Day. Quade would not commit on Sunday and will “milk it to the last part of camp” because he has a lot of respect for all three pitchers according to a report from the Sun-Times.